Ausone 1er Grand Cru Classé A Saint-Emilion, 2022

Ausone 1er Grand Cru Classé A Saint-Émilion 2022 is a benchmark Right Bank Bordeaux from one of the region’s most revered limestone terraces. This is a wine of depth, precision and poise, marrying the richness of the warm 2022 vintage with the chiseled freshness that defines Ausone’s style. Produced in very limited quantities, it represents a pinnacle expression of Saint-Émilion for collectors and serious Bordeaux lovers alike. Its unique selling point lies in the combination of exceptional limestone terroir, a Cabernet Franc–driven blend, and meticulous craftsmanship that consistently delivers wines of incredible longevity. Unlike many estates, Ausone has remained small, focused and family-guided for generations, with roots in the vineyard stretching back to Roman times and a modern reputation that places it among the absolute elite of Bordeaux.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Ausone is deep, opaque ruby with a vibrant purple rim, hinting at both intensity and youth. The nose is wonderfully layered and refined, with aromas of black cherry, ripe cassis and wild blueberry interwoven with violet, crushed rock, graphite and subtle hints of licorice, cocoa and fine cedar. There is a palpable sense of minerality and cool stone that rises through the dark fruit, a hallmark of Ausone’s limestone slopes. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet supremely elegant, with a silken texture and very fine, chalk-dusted tannins. Dense black and blue fruits are lifted by a lively, saline acidity that keeps everything precise and focused. Notes of plum, blackcurrant, blood orange zest, tobacco leaf and spice unfold gradually, leading into a long, vertical finish marked by floral tones and a lingering stony freshness. While already impressive in its youth, this 2022 is built for the long haul: expect a drinking window that comfortably extends from 10–15 years after the vintage and potentially well beyond 30 years in a good cellar.

Production
Ausone’s vineyards occupy steep, terraced slopes just outside the town of Saint-Émilion, perched on deep limestone bedrock with clay and chalk-rich topsoils. This terroir naturally limits yields and brings remarkable tension and minerality to the fruit, even in warm vintages like 2022. The blend is typically dominated by Cabernet Franc with a significant proportion of Merlot, sourced from old vines that are hand-harvested parcel by parcel at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, grapes are carefully sorted, then vinified in small vats to respect the individuality of each plot. Fermentations are closely monitored to extract fine tannins and pure fruit without excess heaviness, and the wine is aged in a high proportion of new French oak barriques, where it undergoes a long, measured élevage to refine structure, integrate oak, and preserve the estate’s signature precision.

Food & Serving
This 2022 Ausone is best paired with refined, flavorful dishes that echo its depth without overwhelming its finesse. Think roast lamb with herbs, tournedos of beef, veal with truffle, duck breast, or game birds; it also shines alongside mushroom-based dishes, confit shallots, and aged hard cheeses such as Comté or aged Gouda. Serve at around 16–18°C (60–64°F) to emphasize both aromatics and freshness. In youth, decanting for 2–3 hours is recommended to help the wine fully open and soften its structure. As it matures and its bouquet becomes more complex, a shorter, gentle decant or even serving directly from the bottle with careful pouring may be sufficient.

Producer
Château Ausone is one of the most storied estates in Saint-Émilion, ranked among the very top tier as a 1er Grand Cru Classé A and historically associated with the very origins of winemaking in the region. Named after the Roman poet Ausonius, the estate has long been celebrated for its dramatic limestone terraces, tiny size, and unwavering focus on quality over quantity. Under the guidance of the Vauthier family, Ausone has reinforced its status as one of Bordeaux’s most coveted and ageworthy wines, crafting bottlings that combine power, perfume, and an unmistakable mineral spine. Its consistently high critical acclaim and limited production make each vintage—especially a concentrated, characterful year like 2022—highly sought after by collectors worldwide.